Tag Archives: Sherrybomb

This particular expression of Macallan came as part of a 4 pack “welcome to the club kid!” package from the good folks at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. This package also included 100ml bottles of the following: Linkwood, Highland Park (soon to be reviewed) and a Bowmore (soon to be reviewed).

This welcome pack also included a very cool SMWS lapel pin that one of my daughters promptly lost on me. I’ll have to buy a new one. Oh well, the joys of fatherhood!

Let move right onto the tasting shall we?

On the nose – Big fat sherry nose with a side of minty mojito.

Sharp vinegar notes.

Spiced pulled pork from back when I…

A) was not a vegetarian and…

B) did not keep kosher.

Then, on to fruit cakes and fig newtons.

Orange and gasoline.

Ah now, with water this sherry bomb comes to life with raisins and dates.

Some marzipan rears it’s head.

On the mouth – Soft chocolate notes from the get-go.

Sweet and salty with some underlying notes of over-steeped orange pekoe tea.

Not a chewy mouth feel but pleasant.

With water this dram turns into a piece of whisky bubblegum – it’s THAT chewy!

The flavors do not change however, they just round out and get very soft.

Finish – Lots of tobacco and chocolate bubble up and my mouth is left with a fizzy numbed feeling.

So, apparently, “Lust” is one of the seven deadly sins. In Judaism, lust can be attributed to ones’ Yetzer Hara, or basically, ones Evil Inclination. The Jewish point of view is that all people have good inclinations (Yetzer Tov) and bad ones (Yetzer Hara) and that when one “sins” it’s more like you’ve “missed the mark” or not lived up to your potential.

You must be asking yourself at this point in time — “What in the blue F$%k is this guy talking about!?”

Well, I’ll tell you. The very second I saw the picture of this bottle of Yamazaki Sherry Cask, I fell in lust. Yes, I like Yamazaki well enough (I actually like it a lot and you can read my review of their 12yr expression here) but the very second I caught a glimpse of the color of the fluid contained within the bottle well, let’s just say my mouth watered. A lot. And I had to get a bottle good and quick. Does this make me evil? G-d, I hope not.

Actually, for as much as I “lusted” after it, I got the bottle during Passover and did not open it. For those of you who do not know, Jews who keep “Kosher for Passover”, we will not drink any whisk(e)y (or have any foods with grains such as wheat, barley, corn, rye, etc…). While perhaps my Yetzer Hara, or bad inclinations, made me buy this bottle; on the flip side of the coin, my Yetzer Tov, or Good Inclinations, told me to hold off on drinking any until Passover is done and be a good Jew. If you want to know more about the ins-and-outs of Passover, check it here. It’s actually a pretty interesting read.

Getting to the point

Anyway, let’s get a bit to the point here: WHISKY! and a damn good Japanese one at that! The Yamazaki Sherry Cask was one of my “You did it, you made it through Passover and now you can taste whisky” whiskies and it made me say WOW. The other was the Springbank 12yr Cask Strength and then on Wednesday April 7th I went to Whisky Live in NYC (the review of that event to coming in the next week). Ok, back again to my point, Yamazaki Sherry Cask. Let’s review it now before I ramble on more:

The Yamazaki Sherry does not have an age statement on it but reading around I found that it was matured in first fill Oloroso Sherry butts (tee-hee) for 12-15yrs. That’s a lot of time sitting in a first fill sherry butts! I guess that explains the gorgeous deep caramel/rusty blood color.

Initial whiff – Very lush and sweet. Stewed prunes with a side of Cafe Americano, deep chocolate notes and sweet corn (¿¿ is that the bourbony quality that I found in their 12yr expression ??), cinnamon and spice, lots of dried fruits and they run the gammut.

On the mouth – Chocolate covered tannins, back to the prunes (something sort of slivovitzy here…plums?), lush mouth feel, big sherry but not extremely “winey”, sweet and back to that bourbon quality I got on the nose. This is like a heavily sherried bourbon!!

Finish – This one stays with you and you’re thankful for it. Chocolates and a bit of leather, dried fruits and a touch of espresso.

In sum — Can I have some more?? Such a nice after dinner type dram. While it’ll warm you up if you need it to, those bourbon-type notes will work pretty hard to refresh you in ways you would not expect. Also, it’s a very easy going-down type whisky, smooth and quite approachable (even at 48%ABV). This is limited stuff too, only 16,000 bottles and, based on how incredible this is, I think this will go quick. Get it while it’s hot!

So, Japan, thank you once more! You never cease to amaze me. I think I’m turning Japanese. I really think so.

I’ve often wondered how the carnival side show people were able to do the things they could (E.G. bang a nail into their face, swallow a sword or eat fire). In the case of the A’Bunadh I would say that a fire eater would have no problems drinking this stuff.

Before I got forward, let me tell you, this is a positive review! The burn-i-ness is all part of the experience.

On the mouth — OUCH! This stuff is hotter than a $3 pistol. I love the quote from Dr. Whisky — “Not unlike drinking a brick”, the sherry is immense. Cinnamon spice, big waxy mouth feel, very tongue coating stuff. Some of the biggest sherry I’ve ever had. A bit winey and now, the burning fire is back. This is some strong stuff.

Finish — The burn goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on… Wait, some bay leafy finish and now, some oak.

In sum — I’m not one usually one for an over sherried drop but this one, in the right mood is just top notch. Very sherry-grapey, dried fruits, waxy on the tongue, cinnamon, (maybe nutmeg) and napalm.